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Resurgence*: paths to decolonization in the thought of Taiaiake Alfred
To contribute to the debate on decolonization from the perspective of Indigenous Peoples, we present the notion of Resurgence elaborated by Taiaiake Alfred, one of Canada’s most important Indigenous thinkers. Alfred proposes his notion of Resurgence as a strategy for breaking away from colonial power relations that focus on Indigenous Peoples’ ability to live and develop according to their own thinking systems. We will see that, besides questioning colonial domination, the notion of Resurgence, anchored in the millenary experiences and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples, shows how to prepare the way and create the necessary conditions for a true decolonization.
[Paper written and published in Portuguese]
Link: http://portal.amelica.org/ameli/journal/815/8154373016/
R. v White and Montour Decision
The Superior Court of Quebec announced its decision on November 1st, 2023 in the White & Montour tobacco trade case. It is a major legal victory for the Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke, and the Haudenosaunee, recognizing The Covenant Chain as an unextinguished meta treaty and affirming our people’s right to conduct trade within and between our territories under the terms of ten treaties Kahnawà:ke entered into with the British Crown. The decision also re-defines Reconciliation, expanding it beyond enforcing tolerance or mandating consistency, and requiring the Crown to engage us as “peoples” to reconcile with our sovereignty, law and jurisdiction on a nation-to-nation basis.
The final judgement, in English:
The notice of appeal by the Attorneys General of Canada and Quebec (unofficial English translation):
It’s All about the Land
Illuminating the First Nations struggles against the Canadian state, It’s All about the Land exposes how racism underpins and shapes Indigenous-settler relationships. Renowned Kahnawà:ke Mohawk activist and scholar Taiaiake Alfred explains how the Canadian government’s reconciliation agenda is a new form of colonization that is guaranteed to fail.
Bringing together Alfred’s speeches and interviews from over the past two decades, the book shows that Indigenous peoples across the world face a stark choice: reconnect with their authentic cultures and values or continue following a slow road to annihilation.
Rooted in ancestral spirit, knowledge, and law, It’s All about the Land presents a passionate argument for Indigenous Resurgence as the pathway toward justice for Indigenous peoples.
Listen to Taiaiake’s August 24, 2023 interview about the book on K1037 Mohawk Radio:
Read an Excerpt and Order the Book from the University of Toronto Press
No Accountability Without Community
In this conversation with host Ian MacKenzie I share stories of growing up Mohawk, fatherhood, the demands of leadership and the question of toxic masculinity, naming the necessity for the soil of rooted community to live true accountability – as there is no good man without the health of the land.
Political Activism in Perspective
In this interview with host Chris Swietch, I share my experiences of living and confronting colonialism and striving for decolonization of myself and this land.
It’s All About the Land – Nuxalk Radio Interview
Listen here to the extended interview with host Qwaxw of 91.1FM in Nuxalk Territory / Bella Coola, BC on June 21, 2020 about the chapter I wrote for the collection of essays entitled, Whose Land is it Anyway: A Manual for Decolonization.
Reconciliation as Recolonization
Video (CUTV): Reconciliation as Recolonization – Concordia Univ., September 2016
Audio Highlights (CKUT Radio): Reconciliation as Reconciliation – September 2016
Land Claims, Reconciliation and Resurgence
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
National Native title Conference – Darwin, Australia
Thursday, 2 June 2016
The presentation details the shortcomings of land claims processes and the limitations of “reconciliation” in Canada as a framework for advocating for justice and decolonizing the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the state. It outlines an alternative vision and set of strategic objectives of struggle that have emerged in response, framed as Indigenous Resurgence, which focus on restoring Indigenous presences on the land and water, reinvigorating language and traditional cultural practices, and strengthening Indigenous nationhood through the decolonization of family and inter-personal relationships.
Land Claims, Reconciliation, and the Resurgence of Indigenous Nationhood
The Failure of Reconciliation
Conférence du professeur Taiaiake Alfred (Université de Victoria, BC) prononcée dans le cadre du colloque “Civic Freedom in an Age of Diversity : James Tully’s Public Philosophy” qui s’est tenu du 24 au 26 avril 2014 à l’Université du Québec à Montréal.
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Taiaiake 